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It is important if you are having a formal sit down reception meal to give a great deal of thought to the seating plan, have you have ever been allocated a seat at a wedding or even a dinner party where you were unfamiliar with the other guests, or even seated next to someone you didn't like? In this situation you are positively less than happy. Remember some of your guests may feel exactly the same if you don't give a little thought to the matter | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Start thinking about the seating arrangements as soon as he acceptances start to arrive. The best way to approach the seating allocation is to get together the person's who were responsible for drawing up the guest list, every guest will known personally by someone present. Within any group there may be friction for whatever reason, it should be quite simple to decide who sits beside who and those that would be best kept apart. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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You could make out a diagram of the
banquet hall, although most good venues will supply you with a table layout
plan, all you have to do is add your guests names to the tables. Do this
as the acceptances arrive, think about your guest's interests and try to
place them accordingly. We all have different personalities some shy, some extrovert and others positively reclusive, try to have one jolly life of the party person at each table. |
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There are of course certain formalities
to be complied with regarding the overall seating plan. The top table where
the bride and groom and their parents sit is traditionally a long table
Below is set out the seating plan for the traditional long or top table. |
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The Top
Table.
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Some couples nowadays choose to use a round table, this is not really to be recommended the main disadvantage is that the guests at the other tables will have their view of the bride and groom obscured, by some of the guests at the top table, and of course these guests will have their backs to the main body of guests. |
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Place Cards. To assist your guests finding their allocated places, you should arrange to have place cards on the tables, also the tables could be allocated numbers or perhaps more creatively names. A diagram of the table layout should be placed where the guests can conveniently view it without causing a bottleneck. Traditionally guests were seated men and women alternatively, there is no hard and fast rules as to who should sit next to whom. Usually couples are seated at the same table although not necessarily together. If using long or oblong tables couples are usually seated opposite each other. If you decide to use place cards a really nice touch is to have a thank you verse printed on them as well as the names of the couple and the date. You could get your calligrapher to write the guests names on the cards. These would make ideal keepsakes to remind them of your special day. If you like this idea there a few suitable verses here you might like to have a look at. |
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Divorced or Remarried Parents. Set out below are suggested seating
arrangements which could be used when parents are divorced and remarried.
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Children. If you have small children at your reception, naturally they are best seated beside their parents, who we hope can keep them under control. You could choose to have a children only table where a party type menu could be served, this table would have to be supervised by a child minder. See also our page on children at your wedding. |
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